A celebration of the Asian Lunar New Year is scheduled for 11 a.m.-1 p.m. on Feb. 12 at the Frisco Ranch shopping center, 9292 Warren Parkway, Ste. 200. Activities to usher in the Lunar New Year that began Feb. 1 will include lion dancing, calligraphy, balloon and caricature artists, and music from a DJ. Red envelopes will also be distributed for good luck.
Frisco resident Megan Nguyen-Trinh said she and her neighbor, Marie Song, approached the Frisco Inclusion Committee with the idea for an annual celebration in Frisco. In 2021, the committee and city officials held the inaugural Lunar New Year celebration at Simpson Plaza.
This year, Nguyen-Trinh said she is “incredibly thrilled” to also partner with NewQuest Properties, the Frisco Ranch developer, to expand the celebration.
“We see this celebration growing within our city for years to come, especially given the incredible growth,” she said.
The significance of Lunar New Year, as Nguyen-Trinh put it, is deeply rooted in Eastern and Southeastern Asian history.
Traditional hallmarks of the celebration, she said, included a celebration of harvest and worshiping of gods to ask for a future good harvest. She added that rest, time spent with family and preparation for a new season are also important traditions.
Nguyen-Trinh said lion and dragon dances alongside firecrackers are often performed to chase away evil spirits and bring good fortune. The many elements of the holiday come together to form a “unique cultural celebration,” Nguyen-Trinh said.
“Lunar New Year is an official holiday that spans across more [than] two dozen Asian countries. It is celebrated globally and by so many Asian American families in Frisco,” she said. “The ability for us to share our culture and symbolic meaning behind our traditions with the community has been incredibly heartfelt.”
